Chairman’s Corner-Marc Coody
It’s hard to believe but we are only 120 days from the beginning of the USAFHPA 2013 BOONDOGGLE! The resort is filling up fast… SO GET YOUR HOTEL RESEVATION IN NOW!
The hotel has water views on all sides, marina to the north and harbor to the south. There is a sandy beach and a pool on the property so bring those suits! Dining is available for three meals daily and room service is also available. Must say the service is excellent and the fares are very reasonable.

The KONA KAI RESORT and SPA is beautifully located at the tip of Shelter Island, San Diego’s Hawaiian Isle, and offers a tropical island ambiance. We will be able to relax and enjoy waterfront views of the harbor and marina. The resort is located only four miles west of SD International Airport, shuttle/taxi service readily available.
All rooms have water views and the rate ($113) is standard for all rooms.
Get your reservations early. We have booked the entire resort and any overflow will be at another hotel adjacent to Kona Kai. The on-line website is now available at www.resortkonakai.com , go to reservation page or call 619-221-8000 or 800-566-2524. ID is USAFHPA-OCTOBER 2013. Dates are 7-10 October 2013.

Advance parties and worker bees should arrive on Sunday 6 October 2013.

EVENTS—Rob Wallace, INBOUND TOURS

Tuesday, Oct. 8th: Tour of the HSC-2 Blackjack Navy Helicopter Squadron, at North Island Naval Base, Coronado. Harbor side luncheon.
Depart the hotel @ 0900 Returns by 1400.
This tour will be informative, scenic, and exciting. Professional motor coaches will take the group over the Coronado Bridge to NAS North Island Air Station. The view at the top of the bridge is panoramic. The group will get a close up of one of the Navy’s finest Helo Squadron’s and what they fly. We will present them with a plaque, as a gesture of helicopter camaraderie.

The group will travel to the famous Bali Hai restaurant, located on the harbor with a 270 degree view, and enjoy a special meal and private room, just for the USAFHPA . Dessert and beverage included. Following the luncheon, we will travel to the top of Point Loma about 651 feet above sea level for a dynamic view of the city, harbor, and the Pacific Ocean, looking south all the way to Mexico. There will be time to explore on foot and take pictures.

This tour includes some of San Diego’s finest, narrated on scenic climate controlled motor coaches.
We will visit the Del Coronado Hotel, with a rare chance to tour inside.
Balboa Park, the Gaslamp district, with its renovated late 1800 buildings, downtown, Another stop @ Seaport Village, and a delicious
luncheon on the Harbor at the newly designed Tom Ham’s Lighthouse restaurant. Another special menu and private room for the USAFHPA is planned.

Wednesday Evening Dinner Cruise. Departs the hotel @ 1800
This cruise is a very special group event. Everyone is seated together,
and upon boarding the ship, each person receives a glass of champagne or sparkling apple. The cruise departs @ 1900 and dinner is served at your table starting with a fresh salad, rolls and butter. Followed by your choice of one pre-selected entree of either, steak, chicken, salmon, or vegetarian. A decadent dessert and coffee round out the meal.
Music is available for dancing and listening enjoyment, spinning the hits that you request and music that you enjoy. The dinner cruise lasts
three hours and the top deck is available for strolling under the stars and enjoying the city skyline at night.

The USS Midway is the most visited Naval Museum in the world.
Commissioned in 1946 and decommissioned in 1992. It is a highly decorated U.S. Naval Aircraft Carrier is superb condition and full of dozens of vintage jets and Helo’s.
At opening 10:00 everyone boards as a group, no ticket lines, complimentary audio sets allow you to go to any exhibit and simply press the button on your set and get all the facts and information, at what you are looking at.
We gather at noon and travel a short distance to the harbor excursion, for a two hour narrated tour, passing by five military installations.
During the tour, everyone receives a custom box lunch to enjoy, with beverage and dessert.
Just before mooring the ship passes by the bow of the Midway for a one of a kind photo op.
After the cruise we return back to the hotel, arriving by about 1500.
The Fairwell Dinner will be at 1900 at the Kona Kai and dress will be informal. If you haven’t chosen your Entrees, please do so. Thanks

PARKING

Your group has complimentary parking. When they arrive at hotel with their own car, they can pull up to the very front of lobby. Park their car right in front of hotel and check in. They will then receive a key for their guestroom/parking from the Front Desk to where they can then park their car in the lots. The key card will let them in to park.

For local guests, they would do same thing, pull up to lobby and go to Front Desk, say they are with group and they will get a key card as well.

People can arrange pickups based around those times, based on availability. Please have them call #619-221-8000 for pickup from airport when they arrive to San Diego.

July 31th is the deadline for signing up for these events.

BUSINESS MEETING/GUEST SPEAKER
Continuing with the Branson tradition, we will have Jack McTasney and guest speaker (Gamble Dick, US ARMY) discuss the recovery mission of the Jolly Green 26 (Jerry Young) crew!

“Former US Army Major Gamble C. Dick, Hatchet Force Commander, I Corps, Viet Nam will speak about the efforts to recover the crew of Jolly Green 26, from November 9th-11th, 1967 in Laos. Major Dick’s Cambodian mercenaries and fellow Studies and Observation Group (SOG) members were inserted by VNAF “KingBee” H-34s and US Marine Corps helos. Weather precluded their extraction for over 48 hours. What they found at the crash site, how they survived is the rest of the story behind Gerald O. Young’s Medal of Honor, four Air Force Crosses and three Silver Stars awarded to the Danang Jolly Green aircrew members who participated in the nighttime extraction of SOG Team “Flatfoot.” Major Dick has been honored at the Infantry Museum, and retired from a career in law enforcement after his military service.“

GOLF TOURNAMENT – SAN DIEGO, CA
Play: Wednesday – October 9, 2013 – Admiral Baker Golf Course (South
Course).(URL: http://navylifesw.com/sandiego/recreation/golf/admiralbaker
One of the best military courses in all of Southern California. Tee
Length – 5519 yards…
Registration Fee: All fees are included in the $55 sign up.
Play Format: Best ball for nine holes and a scramble for nine holes.
Handicap/2 man teams.

Reminder to all Members: Please check the USAFHPA new web site –
http://usafhpa.com/ for all updates, news and information. Many
e-mails are being returned as “rejected”.

SILENT AUCTION—Jack McTasney
The Branson auction was both rewarding and a lot of fun! We plan to do the same in San Diego. We have sent numerous letters to Corporate American asking for their contributions.

TREASURER’S CORNER – Bob Strout
For those who may be keeping track, our organization’s taxes were electronically filed and accepted by the IRS in early April.
There are 152 members on the roster who are not up to date with their dues. Please check your latest roster to see when your dues expired or will expire.
Anyone who needs a new roster, please contact me, (or any past or present board member) and I’ll mail you a new roster. E-Rosters are available in Excel format.
I have about two dozen hats ($7.50), lots of Credit Card Cases ($6.00), Post-it note cases with the Branson LOGO ($4.00), Challenge Coins ($5.00), Hat Pins ($!.50), and some USAFHPA decals ($1.00), for regular or LIFE memberships.